Rotary belt loading machine with cartridge push rods



1947. N. M. EDSON ET AL ROTARY BELT LOADING MACHINE WITH CARTRIDGE PUSH RODS Filed Oct. 15, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I v INVENTORS 0e/ M. 5150/? BY [ar/ 5. H

aback v AGENT Dec. 9, 1947. EDSON ETAL 2,432,398

ROTARY BELT LOADING MACHINE WITH CARTRIDGE PUSH RODS Filed 001;. 13, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 MZW AGEN

Dec. 9, 1947.

N. M. EDSON ET AL 2,432,398

ROTARY BELT LOADING MACHINE WITH CARTRIDGE PUSH RODS Filqd Oct. 13, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 \[7 92 Il/I/ 69 2 as 94 6a .65 92 66 'a r i i 1 8 I as 70 37 lNVENTORS 58 6 Noel M. Edsan BY [ar/ 6. H0660? AGEN ' Dec. 9, 1947.

N. M. EDSON El AL ROTARY BELT LOADING MACHINE WITH CARTRIDGE PUSH RODS Filedbct'. 1:5, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR$ Aloe/ M. Ea'son By ar/ B. Hobac/r AGENT Dec. 9, 1947. EDSON ET AL 2,432,398

ROTARY BELT LOADING MACHINE WITH CARTRIDGE PUSH RODS Filed Oct. 13, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR6 Noe/ M. Eason BY [ar/ 5.//06ack Patented Dec. 9, 1947 ROTARY BELT LOADING MACHINE WITH CARTRIDGE PUSH RODS Noel M. Edson, Independence, and Earl B. -Hoback, Kansas Cty, Mo., assignors to Remington Arms Company, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Application October 13, 1943, Serial No. 506,065

3'Claims.

This invention relates, ingeneral, to ammunition manufacture, andgin particular, to a machine for automaticallyformingcartridge belts of the disintegrating link type.

The link belt loading machine of this invention is adapted toh e-supplied continuously with cartrldges from a conveyor belt which'is arranged to feed cartridges of various types to the loading machine in predetermined sequence, the latter being constructed and arranged, as hereinafter described, to couple the intereng'aged metal links and the'cartridge's to provide 'a flexible belt-like structure. It will be understood, however, that the conveyor belt mechanism is not a part of the present invention, the conveyor-being described and illustrated in detail in a copending application, filed October 13, 1943,85 N. 506,064.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved link belt loading machine for form ing cartridge belts continuously without the intervention of an operator and at extremely rapid rate. A further object is to provide a link belt loading machine which is adapted to insert cartridges 'in 'interengaged links without scratching or otherwise marring th heads or surfaces of the cartridges.

These and other objects; features and advarn tages of the invention will be pointed out in greater detail in the following specification which describes certain novel features in the construction of one embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of thelink belt loading machine shown in conjunction with a suitable conveyor belt for feeding cartridges to the loading machine.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the loading machine not including the link feeding chute.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the loading machine shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, in section, of the loading machine showing the conveyor belt mechanism associated therewith.

5 is a side elevation of the loading machine in the direction of the arrows 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevationof the fluted loading drum of Fig. 4, showing one of the pusher rods and the cam surfaces associated therewith.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the fluted loading drum showing the pusher rods thereon and the relief milling and slots for supporting the links.

Fig. 811s afragmentary perspectiveview of the 2 cam drum adapted to be associated with the loading drum.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of th link retaining plate ofthe drum.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the drum and conveyor belt showing the chute for feeding links to the drum and theblade for stripping the link beltfrom the drum.

Fig. 11 is a schematic rear elevation-of the machine showing suitable leather belts circumscribing the loading. drum.

As shown in the drawings, the link belt loading machine, indicated gen'erally at I5 in Fig. 1, is in the present embodiment associated with suitable conveyor belt lfi which is the subject of the separate above-identified application; and, to this end, both the conveyor belt and link belt'loading machine are driven from a single power source shown at ll bymeans'ofa chain'and-sprocket drive is, the sprocket being suitably mounted, as hereinafter described; to rotate a main drive shaft it which is supported at its opposite ends by flanged bronze bushings 28 mounted in a pair of bearing {plates 22-"respectively which extend in spaced parallel relationfrom' the front legs 23 of the conveyor 'belt'supporting frame, indicated generally at 24.

As shown in Fig. 4, a pair of laterally spaced sprocket wheels 25 are keyed to the drive shaft l9 between which is a fixed drum-shaped feeding head 23 supported on the drive shaft l9. A pair of links of the conveyor belt l6 are shown engaged in corresponding teeth of the sprockets 25.

As the sprockets are rotated, .the conveyor chain will be drawn along the substantially horizontal trough of the frame 24, see Fig. 1, and over the surface ofthe feeding head 26 at the end of the trough so that cartridges which are supported on the bottom of the trough between th successive links of the chain will be carried forwardly onto the surface of-the feeding headas-indicated in Fig. 5. Moreover, a, cylindrical shield or cover 21 is shown fastened on the end of the frame over the feeding head itand is spaced circumferentially therefrom soas to hold 'the cartridges in the belt as they move around the periphery of the feeding head. The lower lip 21 of the shield 27 is, as shown in Fig. 5, adapted to extend in proximity to the periphery of a fluted loading drum hereinafter described. Anarrow substantially flat band 28-is arranged around the feeding head 26 adjacent one endthereof'and slightly eccentric to its periphery to support the tapered ends-of the cartridges so as to prevent the cartridges from jamming between the links of the conveyor belt l6.

Although the above mentioned conveyor belt is one especially adapted for use with the link belt loading machine of this invention, it will be understood that the latter is not limited thereby and that other means than the conveyor belt referred to may be used to supply cartridges in pro er sequence to the loading machine.

The loading machine l5 embodies a rotating loading drum, indicated generally at 29, supported between the legs 23 of the frame by a shaft 39, each end of which is reduced in diameter as at 39' forming shoulders 3|, the reduced ends 36 being mounted in suitable flanged brackets 32 which are fastened to the legs 23 by bolts 33. Suitable nuts 34 are provided on the threaded ends of the shaft 39 to securely fasten the shaft against longitudinal movement in the brackets 32.

The drum 29 is a composite structure comprising two cylindrical members 35 and 36 arranged in end-to-end relation, the latter having a cylindrical tongue 36' at one end adapted to fit in a cylindrical mortise 35' in the adjacent end of the member 35, as shown in Fig. 4. The two cylindrical members are held in assembled relationship by four tie rods 31 and a pair of end plates 38 and 39 respectively, the plate 38 having a circumferential mortise 38 to seat the adjacent end of the cylindrical member 35, and four circumferential equally spaced apertures for the tie rods 31. The plate 38 also embodies a hub portion 48 provided with a bushing 49 adapted to fit nicely on the shaft 38, thus providing means for rotatably supporting this end of the loading drum.

The end plate 39 at the opposite end of the loading drum is in the form of an annulus provided with a circumferential mortise 39', peripheral serrations 42 on the outer edge of the annulus, a plurality of circumferential equally spaced tapped holes 43 adjacent the inner edge of the annulus and four circumferential equally spaced tapped holes 44, as shown in Fig. 9.

The threaded ends of the tie rods 31 are adapted thus to be screwed in the tapped holes 44 to draw together the end plates 38 and 39 and the respective cylindrical members 35 and 36 in a unitary rigid structure.

Referring to Fig. 4, interposed between the inner face of the circumferential mortise 39 and the adjacent end of the cylindrical member 36 is a pressure plate in the form of a thin hardened steel annulus 45, the periphery of which is provided with serrations 45 corresponding in number to the number of serrations 42 of the end plate 39. As shown in Fig. 9, the radii of the serrations 45 are slightly less than the radii of the serrations 42 so that the edges of the former extend above the edges of the serrations 42 for the purpose hereinafter described.

Fastened to the outside of the end plate 39 is a gear plate 46, the latter having circumferentially equally spaced counterbored slots 41 therein for suitable headed bolts 48 which are adapted to be screwed into the tapped holes 43 of the end plate 39. By providing slots 4'! in the gear plate 46, the latter may be adjusted circumferentially with respect to the drum 29. The gear plate 46 comprises a hub having a bushing 46' adapted to fit nicely on the shaft 30 so as to rotatably support the right-hand end of the drum.

The gear plate 46 is driven from the main drive shaft l9 through a gear train comprising two spur gears 49 and 59 and an idler gear 52, the gears 49 and 52 being rotatably mounted on suitable stud shafts 49 and 52 respectively which are threadedly secured in a hanger bar 53. The latter is provided at its upper end with a bored hole 54 of a diameter such as to fit nicely over the flange of the bushing 29 as shown in Fig. 4. The spur gear 59 is secured to rotate with the drive shaft by a set screw 50'.

As mentioned above, the drive shaft I9 is driven from the power source I! by the chain and sprocket drive Hi. In order to avoid destruction of the parts of the machine in the event of a jam or other malfunction, the sprocket I8 is connected to the drive shaft l9 by a friction clutch comprising a friction disk 55 havingan annular friction ring 55 on its inner face adapted to contact the adjacent face of the sprocket I8; and a relatively long sleeve-like hub 56 fastened to the shaft I9 by a key 56' and set screw 51. The sprocket I8 is provided with an axially drilled hole of a diameter to make a smooth running fit on the portion 58 of the hub 56. A second friction disk 59 is provided having an annular friction ring 59' adapted to engage the adjacent face of the sprocket l8; and a hub portion 69, the latter being suitably secured to the outer end of the hub 56 by a key 62. The friction disk 59 is held against endwise movement on the shaft l9 by a suitable lock washer 63 and a nut 64, the latter providing means for adjusting the friction force between the friction disks 55 and 59 and the sprocket l8.

In accordance with the above construction, rotation of the sprocket l8 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5 drives the loading drum 29 in the reverse or clockwise direction.

As pointed out above, the loading drum 29 comprises the two cylinders 35 and 36 secured together in endwise relation by the tie rods 31. The cylinder 35 is formed at its inner end with an annular flange 65 having a shoulder 65, see Fig. 6, and provided with a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced horizontally drilled holes hereinafter termed sleeves 66, thirty-two holes being shown in the present embodiment. A plurality of relatively narrow substantially rectangular closed slots 61 having countersunk shoulders 67' at each end are formed in the flange 65, the longitudinal axis of each slot being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of one of the sleeves 66, respectively. Each slot 61 is adapted to receive a substantially flat T- shaped key 68 which is supported on the shoulders 61', the upper surface of each key being substantially flush with the periphery of the flang 65.

The keys 68 are held in their respective slots by a plurality of retaining bands 69, four being shown in the present embodiment, suitably secured by screws or other fastening means around the periphery of the flange 65.

Slidable in each sleeve 66 of the flange is a cylindrical push rod i9 having a longitudinal keyway in its surface of predetermined length adapted to accommodate the protruding end of one of the keys 68, whereby the latter may both limit the longitudinal movement of the rod and prevent rotation thereof in its sleeve 66. The inner end of each push rod 19 is provided with a head or bunter 12 which is of less diameter than the diameter of the flange of a cartridge C and may be provided with a suitable recess 12' in its face adapted to come opposite the primer cap of the cartridge ceive a headed pin 16; as shown in Fig. 6. A- pair'of cam rollers H and 11' are *rotata'bly.

mounted by one of the pins 16 in each of the bifurcated blocks 13 of the rods 10; one roller, hereinafter termed the return cam'rolle'r Tl; be-

' ing adapted to rest on the topsurface of the upper flange 15. The lower, roller," hereinafter' termed the feed eam roller '11; is shown mounted -be-' tween the upper and" lower flanges or the block 13; A-'=se't screw "l8 isthreadedly secumdin the side of *the upper'fl'ange fl of each block-"m te engage and hold'therespective pin 76 in position. A'Sllltdblfblf or'grease fixture l9 is shown mount ed in the top "of each pin '16 and'is adapted to supply lubricant to the cam rollers ll and 11"."

It will beunderstood that the lower surface of the bifurcated -block T3 of each" push rod"!!! is adapted to slide-"longitudinallyon the smooth peripheral surface of the cylinder '35 beingeuide'd by the reciprocating movement of the- 'pushrod Hl in "its respective "sleeve-66$- The periphery of the cylinderet of the drum 29 is fluted, asshown'in the drawings; beinglpro vided wth'" thirty-two longitudinal curvilinear grooves or flutes 80, eachinsubtstantiallyqthe horizontal plane of and in longitudinal alignment with one-of thepush rods 103 The flutes 80pxtend theentire-length'of' thecylinder 36,*the walls thereof being of substantially-uniform height for amajor portion of their length;

Inthe present embodiment, the height of these wallsis sufiicient'to'confine'a cartridge case C of ".50 caliber dimensions.- The portions of the flutes- 80, adjacentthe right-hand end of the cylinder,'-are-relief milled'as at 82 so =that the height of these walls is" slightly less than'the height of the walls of the'remaining portionsof thfilltE. These relief milled portions 82' are thus adapted to provide suitable supporting means s'forrthe clips or linksL which areauto maticallyrfed thereto ashereinafterdescribed. A pair :Df spaced parallel periphery grooves 'orslots 83 :and 84 of substantially equal 'depth are cut or otherwise formediaround'the relief imilled por-tion 82," the :slot'83 definin'g the inner r edge ofthel milled portionz82 and being. slightly wider than the slot 84. As shown, the latter is' locatedsubstantially at the middle of 'theamilled portion 82 and isadaptedfto constitute tawguidefor a feed chute 85 i which is of conventional lconstruction and adapted to feed: clips L successivelyv and "at a uniformrateto the fiutes ofathe rotatingidrum 29, the lower end of the chute: being helm-properly adjacentthe-fluted periphery of i the *drumnby means of actongue portion- 85fi=which extends from th'elend of the chute and is adapted .to engagein the peripheral groove 84 of the-drum;- The pe ripheral groove 83 is provided to .-accommodate the .endofastripperrblade 86 which is :fastenedto the frame -ofthe rmachinein any convenient man:- ner andis adapted to-engageithelinks of .theeoms pleted belt to strip the completedv belt from the flutes of the a drums Ashereinafter 2' described: in detail, when: the drum-29 vrotates the push rods 19 :areadapted :to be moved forwardly successively-inr their:respectiye sleeves 66 so as to push thacartridges C alnng 6" the flutes '80 into pairs of interengaged links 1L; thus interlocking successive pairs of links and automatically forming an unbroken length' of cartridge belt.

The means for reciprocating the push .rods 16 asthe drum 29 rotates comprises a cam drum, indicated generally at 81, which, as shown in Fig. 8, embodies two cylindrical surfaced cam plates 88 andl89 supported inua: cage comprising a "disk 90 and a ring 92 which are held apart in suitably spaced parallel relationship by a'plurality of connectingbars 93 welded or otherwise secured at theinopposite ends to the disk 99 and ring 92 at circumfe'rentially spaced points thereon.

I The cam plate '88,"hereinafter referred to as the return cam, is fastened to the front half of the cage .181, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of radial spacer blocks 94 which are welded along their outer edges to the inner surfaces of the connectingbars 93 and along their inner edges toadj'acent-areasl'on the surface of thereturn cam-iplate 88. The right-hand edge of the cam plate 88 is welded :to the inner face'of the'ring '92 while'the left-hand edge 88 of the cam plate constitutes a cam-surface adapted to be engaged by the upper 'orreturn" cam roller ll of the push rods 70', as shown "in Fig; 4. The cylindrical cam plate 89, hereinafter termed the feed cam, is

located at'the back of the cage, as shown in Fig. 8, concentric with the return cam'plate 38 but of less diameter by an amount corresponding to the vertical distance between the upper and lower rollers 11 and ll of the push rods, as shown in Fig. 4;. To this end a ring segment 96 is welded to the inner-face of the disk 96 at the outer edge thereof, the outeredge of the ring segment being substantially flush'with the periphery of the disk 99; The inner edge of the segment constitutes a shoulder for supporting the right-hand edge of the feed cam plate 89 to which the latter is welded, as shown in Fig. 8."

A 'second ring segment 9! is provided which is arranged adjacent the left-hand edge of the cam plate 89 being welded along'its inner edge, like thesegment 96; to the outer surface of the cam plate 89 and along its outer edge to the con-- necting bars 93. Further suitable radial spacer blocks '98 are-provided which are of greater height than the'spacerblocks 94, as shown in Fig. 4, and'which are connected'to the adjacent surfaces of the cam plate 89, the'connections between the bars:93 and the segments 96 and 91 being welded joints. The left-hand edge of the follower cam plate constitutesa'cam surface 89' adapted to be engaged by thefollower cam rollers ll of the push rods 10;

Thecam drum 8'! is supported in proper relationto the loading drum 29 by providing an axiallyrdrilled hole 99 in the disk 99 such that the diskrmay be supported on the reduced end 3B of the shaft 39 abutting the shoulder 3! thereof, as shown in Fig.4. A'suitable spacer ring I having radial oil grooves, not shown, is mounted on the shaft 30 between the disk 98 and the end plate 38 of the rotatable loading drum to properly space the loading drum longitudinally with respect to the fixed cam drum 81. A similar spacer ring I00 is provided on the opposite end of the shaft 39 between the outer face of the gear plate land the flange of the bracket 32.

It will be understood that the friction force between the contacting surfaces of the disk and the flange of the bracket 32 is sufiicient to prevent rotation of the cam drum 3? but additional means may be provided such as a'setscrew I92 screwed into a tapped hole in the flange of the bracket 32 and adapted to engage the adjacent surface of the disk 90 to positively prevent the cam drum 8? from moving when the loading drum 29 rotates.

To insure against deflection of the outer ends of the rods 19 as the latter reach their more advanced positions in their flutes especially on the underside of the loading drum and to retain the cartridges in the flutes, flexible retaining means may be provided such as a leather belt I03, see Fig. 11, secured at its upper and lower ends to the frame or to other fixed parts such as the members HM and I95, each of which is bolted at one end to the frame and secured at its opposite end to the fixed cam drum 8?.

As indicated in the drawings, the belt is arranged to circumscribe, sinuously, substantially the back half of the loading drum 29. A second leather belt 35 is similarly secured at its upper and lower ends to the members Hi l and H15 partially circumscribing the relief milled portion 82 of the fluted drum 29 so as to hold the links L in their respective flutes during the interlocking of the links by the cartridges and until the completed belt has been carried around to a suitable discharge point. An additional supporting means lill, comprising a metal or stiff leather strap, is shown bolted at one end to the fixed cam drum 8! and riveted at its opposite end to the link retaining strap I05.

In operation, cartridges of various types and arranged in predetermined sequence are fed con tinuously by the conveyor chain V over the periphery of the feeding head 26 and discharged therefrom at the lip 27' of the feeding head cover 27 into the flutes 38 of the loading drum. Simultaneously the links L of the cartridge belt are being fed from the chute 85 into the flutes 89 adjacent the relief milled portion 82 thereof, successive links being fed in interengaged relationship into the flutes at a point on the periphery of the drum below the discharge lip 2?, as shown in Fig. that is to say, the loading of the links L into the flutes precedes the loading of the cartridges therein.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 8, the arrangement of the returning and feeding cam surfaces 38' and 89' respectively is such that a push rod 78 of the loading drum will be fully retracted in its sleeve 68 at the moment its corresponding flute 89 is opposite the discharge lip 27' of the conveyor belt. Consequently, a cartridge C is enabled to drop freely into the flute. As the loading drum rotates clockwise, see Fig. 10, the feeding cam roll ll of the push rod it will engage the feeding cam surface 89 on the back side of the fixed cam drum 3? and will be advanced thereby towards the right end of the machine, as seen in Fig. 6. The cartridge C will thereby be gradually pushed along its flute as the loading drum rotates until the bullet and neck portions of the cartridge pass through the encircling bands of two of the interengaged links L at the right-hand end of the drum, thereby locking the two links together. The pressure exerted by the cartridge against the interengaged links L, as the cartridge is being pushed therein, is resisted by the hardened steel pressure plate 35, the lip 25' of which is disposed slightly above the bed of the corresponding flute 38, as described above, so as to engage the lower edges of the links L and prevent longitudinal movement thereof. The bullet and mouth portion of the cartridge are free to pass through the serrations 42 of the end plate 39.

When a push rod 10 has been fully advanced in its sleeve 66 by the feed-cam 89, a'cartridge will have been full advanced into a pair of interengaged links, and thereafter the return cam roll 11 of the push rod 70 engages the fixed return cam surface 88' of the cam drum and is Withdrawn thereby in its flute to its initial position.

In a similar manner, each successive push rod 10 will be advanced and force a cartridge into corresponding interengaged links L, thereby looking the links together and forming a cartridge belt of unbroken length. Thereafter each rod T0 is retracted by the returning cam to its initial position.

Should the interlocked links ofthe cartridge belt become jammed or stick in the flutes of the loading drum, the belt will be carried around with the drum until the belt comes opposit the stripper blade 86. 'Ihereupon, the links would ride up on the blade 86, which extends into the peripheral groove 83, so that the blade would act as a pry for loosening the links and stripping the belt from the drum.

It will be clear from the above description and drawings that the link belt loading machine of this invention is adapted to form a cartridge belt of unbroken length continuously and without scratching or forming burrs on the case. Moreover, the loading operation takes place without the intervention of any manual operation and is relatively rapid, the machine being capable of loading a link belt at the rate of four hundred cartridges per minute.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for forming belts of cartridges, a cartridge receiving drum having a fluted sur.. face, means for rotating said drum, means for delivering cartridges successively into the flutes of said drum, chute means for holding and delivering interengaged links into said flutes in alignment with the delivered cartridges, guide means for said chute means comprising a peripheral groove in said drum and a projection on said chute means engaged in said groove, means for moving said cartridges into said interengaged links comprising a series of push rods mounted on said drum and associated respectively with said flutes for longitudinal movement therein, cartridge engaging means on one extremity of said rods and cam engaging means at the opposite extremity, and actuating means for said push rods consisting of a fixed unitary cam drum concentric and in longitudinal alignment with said rotating drum and comprising push rod advancing and retracting cams.

2. In a machine for forming belts of cartridges, a cartridge receiving drum having a fluted surface, means for rotating said drum, means for delivering cartridges successively into the flutes of said drum, chute means for holding and delivering interengaged links into said flutes in alignment with the delivered cartridges, means for moving said cartridges into said interengaged links comprising a series of push rods associated respectively with said flutes, mounting and supporting means for said push rods comprising an apertured ring associated with said cartridge receiving drum and a second push rod supporting drum concentric and in longitudinal alignment with said cartridge receiving drum, and push rod actuating means consisting of a fixed cam drum concentric with and surrounding said second drum and comprising push rod advancing and retracting cams.

3. In a machine for forming belts of cartridges,

a cartridge receiving drum having a fluted surface, means for rotating said drum, means for delivering cartridges successively into the flutes of said drum, chute means for holding and delivering interengaged links into said flutes in alignment with the delivered cartridges, means for moving said cartridges into said interengaged links comprising a series of push rods associated respectively with said flutes, mounting and supporting means for said push rods for longitudinal non-rotational movement comprising an apertured ring associated with said cartridge receiving drum and a second push rod supporting drum concentric and in longitudinal alignment with said cartridge receiving drum, push rod actuating means consisting of a fixed cam drum concentric with and surrounding said second drum and comprising a push rod advancing cam and a push rod retracting cam, and a pair of rollers supported at one extremity of each of said push rods for engagement respectively by said advancing cam and said retracting cam.

NOEL M. EDSON. EARL B. HOBACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 9,439 Colver Dec. '7, 1852; 2,094,026 Simpson Sept. 28, 1937i 2,289,393 Turnock July 14, 1942' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 539,184 Great Britain Sept. 1, 1941 656,629 Germany Feb. 10, 1938 

